Nanocomposites and nanomaterials 

The sorption properties of saponite in situ modified of poly[4-metacroyloxy- (4'-carboxy-2'-nitro)-azobenzene] to toxic metals ions

Y. Polonska1,  E. Yanovska1, I. Savchenko1, D. Sternik2, O. Kychkyruk3
1 National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, 60, Volodymyrska str., 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine E-mail: iras@univ.kiev.ua
2 Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, pl. Maria Curie-Skłodowskiej 3, 20‑031 Lublin, Poland
3 Ivan Franko Zhytomyr State University, 40 Velyka Berdychivska St., 10008 Zhytomyr, Ukraine

The presence of large volumes of toxic metals scattered in the biosphere as a result of corrosion and losses in production processes makes it urgent to find new technologies for their removal from contaminated water and soil in order to isolate the biosphere and re-use. In this regard, the search for inexpensive non-toxic sorbents, which can be effectively used to remove toxic ions from wastewater or contaminated natural waters, remains relevant. For this purpose, it is advisable to use natural porous minerals, in particular saponite clay. Saponite clays are unique natural forms of volcanic origin, whose industrial deposits are first discovered in the world in Ukraine.
This work is devoted to the in situ immobilization of poly [4-methacryloxy- (4'-carboxy-2'-nitro) azobenzene] on the saponite surface of the Tashkiv deposit and the study of its sorption properties with respect to ions Pb(ІІ), Cd(ІІ), Cu(ІІ), Mn(ІІ) та Fe(ІІІ). 
The fact of in situ polymerization on the saponite surface was established by comparative analysis of the IR spectra of the modified and the original saponite. The amount of immobilized polymer in the synthesized material according to the thermogravimetric analysis is 3.5%.
From the analysis of CEM-photo it was established that the polymer on the surface of a saponite is placed unevenly in the form of loops of macro chains, adsorbed tufts and adsorbed aggregates of tufts and does not significantly affect the structure of the surface of the mineral. By comparing the sorption properties of the modified and the original saponite, it is found that as a result of the modification, its sorption properties are improved with respect to the ions of cuprum (II), plumbum (II), manganese (II) and ferrum (III). The sorption capacitt for ions of cuprum (II) increases in 2 times.